Sometimes your expectations don’t survive. But you have to make it through.
After a lengthy visa application procedure, I left my father with our dog, jumped on a flight, and there I was in London. Since Europe is an aspiration in my country, I had imagined it as a place where things always worked perfectly. I was alone in dealing with all kinds of problems as they arose, that was alright and this is how I became my own “special person” during my Erasmus exchange.
The accommodation I could afford was far from the city. To make things worse, I was new to many things, and definitely an outsider. But it wasn’t an exception to carelessness, I found out. My dorm was in a silent neighborhood. Little did I know that those calm streets would be visited by loud fire trucks...And because of me!
That morning, I closed the kitchen door after placing some bread in the toaster. I was still half asleep and looking for what to wear. For some reason, the automatic mechanism of the toaster to push the slices up didn’t work. When I went back to the kitchen. It was full of thick white smoke. Coughing hard, I opened the windows, stepped outside the door for a breath, and then went in again to reach for the fire extinguisher(灭火器). It was the first time I used one, and had to get out of the kitchen to be able to see how to unlock it. It was only then the fire alarm went off! I went in again and made sure I put off the fire.
Nothing was like how I planned. A few times I hung out in the school cafeteria, but couldn’t make friends. I went to discover the city, alone. Independence wasn’t something to be ashamed of after all. I wish I had made friends with people, but it turned out that I had to learn I wasn’t in need of others’ company to enjoy life. I tried to make the best of my time, thinking that being alone is a blessing too, just like being with friends is. My international experiences that followed definitely made me more social, but now I know that being alone is not a weakness, but a part of life embrace. Just like our mistakes, carelessness or bad luck, I can say it was during my time in London that I learnt I was, despite everything, a strong and special person who can cope with (处理) anything that comes her way.
1. What does the underlined words “it wasn’t an exception to carelessness” probably refer to?| A．I was careless to cause a fire |
| B．I shouldn’t be careless in a foreign country |
| C．I was supposed to handle hardships abroad on my own |
| D．the accommodation of exchange students is always out-of-the-way |
| A．Helpless. | B．Meaningless. |
| C．Fruitful. | D．Regretful. |
| A．had expected everything abroad would go smoothly before leaving his country |
| B．hadn’t been prepared to handle the problems abroad before going |
| C．got his visa without much difficulty |
| D．went abroad with his dog |
| A．What Made Me Become My Own Hero? |
| B．My Study Experience in the UK |
| C．Being Alone Is Definitely an Awful Thing |
| D．An Unforgettable Experience of Putting Out a Fire in London |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】When I was in junior high school, I was a really bad boy. My history teacher — Mr Oven criticized me a lot because I was naughty in his class. By the end of the first semester, I’d had enough of his words and had decided that I would get my revenge on him.
The opportunity arose one morning when Mr. Oven was called to the office for a certain reason. While Mr. Oven left, my company Billy and I grabbed Mr. Oven’s lunch bag from under his desk. I opened his sandwich and placed a bug in between the two slices of bread. We put it back and closed it. To keep it in memory, Billy took photos of the whole process. We laughed for weeks over this.
Well, it all went south during Thanksgiving break. Billy’s Mother found the pictures in his room, and demanded that he should tell her where these pictures were from. Billy told his mother the whole story, and Mr. Oven was informed. Not only was I punished from school for two weeks, but also I was kicked off the football and basketball team. Before I could return to school, I had to turn in a 1000-word essay on what I did and why I did that. I really felt embarrassing every time I saw Mr. Oven in the hallway for the rest of the school year. I felt a little regret that Mr. Oven left our school the next year.
1. Mr. Oven criticized the writer a lot because _________.| A．he was naughty in his class | B．he didn’t go to his class |
| C．he didn’t answer his question | D．he was good at his class |
| A．He would be glad to eat his delicious sandwich. |
| B．He would eat it as usual when he had his sandwich. |
| C．He would cry because he was afraid of the bug in his sandwich. |
| D．He would be very angry when he found the bug in his sandwich. |
| A．It was until Thanksgiving break that the secret was let cut. |
| B．All the students left on Thanksgiving break. |
| C．All the students went south on Thanksgiving break. |
| D．Billy and I went south during Thanksgiving break. |
| A．Fired. | B．Punished. | C．Scolded. | D．Hit. |
【推荐2】Unlike many other exchange students, my school focused on arts such as singing, acting, dancing, and many other talents, so there wasn’t much room for sports. Honestly, in the beginning, I was a little sad because I wanted to participate in basketball. However, I did not let that disappoint me. After a while, I took a pause for some self-reflection. I remembered how much I like to sing even though I don’t think I’m good at it. I then thought to myself, “why not be the one to try acting?”
After my first week, I loved the school! My art classes feel like a break from reality and the scenery at my school makes me feel as though I am in some talent-based American high school movie. Every morning, we are welcomed with the beautiful voices from my teachers. At lunch, we are entertained with musical performances by any student who wishes to sing.
During my second week of school, I was required to perform my first five-minute play with my class partner. I was a bit nervous, but I gathered courage and did it. By chance, a staff person from the school office saw my performance. After school, on my way to the bus station, she called me and informed me she had recommended me and some other students to participate in an upcoming two-day workshop. I first thought she was teasing me. When I got home, I found out she’d also sent an email to my host mom.
My host mom is very busy, but she planned her schedule around the activity. My mom picked me up from school and drove me to the workshop which was an hour from my school. After the workshop, we were presented with tickets to watch the play the following day. After the show, I met with the actors, thanked and congratulated them. On our way home, I was smiling so much that my cheeks hurt. I appreciate my host family and school for giving me this experience.
1. How did the author overcome her displeasure?| A．By playing basketball. | B．By taking a rest. |
| C．By changing her hobby. | D．By talking with her host mom. |
| A．The school is superior to her former one. |
| B．The school’s beautiful scenery and art classes appeal to her. |
| C．She does nothing but sing at the new school. |
| D．Every day in the school is monotonous for her. |
| A．She was too nervous to speak a word. | B．She couldn’t believe her ears. |
| C．She was proud of her performance. | D．She felt kind of sorrowful. |
| A．Considerate. | B．Optimistic. | C．Complicated. | D．Indifferent. |
【推荐3】Leaving junior high school,and going up to the high school was a very frightening change for me. I went there with no friends. The only two people who came from my previous school were two girls, Donna Davis and Sakjinda Rai, but I developed little friendship with them. At first I was scared and looked stupid. But after a few months, I tried keeping my arms open and making friends with people around me.
After an unsuccessful relationship with Amit Sharmar, who ran away from me whenever I said hello to him, Sher Bhachu joined me, and we seemed to have a bit in common. So I made my first friend, and I wasn’t on my own any more! But after a few days, he broke his leg,and was off for a couple of months! I was on my own again!
Anyway, when Sher finally did return, I introduced him to another friend of mine, Graeme Parker. They got on like a house on fire, but unfortunately that little threesome (三人一组) only managed to last about a week or two before they had a bit of fight, and poor Graeme went his own way. Shortly after that we met and later joined with another gang. Others later joined at various stages,including: Chris Elemen, Venay Maru, Amandeep Vidhani, Yaser Ghauri and Paul Barrance. It was with these people that I spent most of my life in senior high school.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?| A．The author didn't like Sakjinda Rai at all. |
| B．The author's junior high school was not very good. |
| C．The author felt frightened in the new school with no friends. |
| D．The author had tried his best to make friends with Donna Davis. |
| A．they quarrelled about something | B．his friend was off because of injury |
| C．the author moved to another school | D．they found they had nothing to share |
| A．the author made more friends as time went on |
| B．the author missed his little threesome |
| C．the author and Graeme had a fight |
| D．Graeme Parker and Sher Bhachu were close friends |
| A．introduce some friends to readers |
| B．prove senior high school life is hard |
| C．tell readers his friendship in senior high school |
| D．show his attitudes toward life in senior high school |
【推荐1】It was a dark autumn night. The old banker was walking up and down his study and remembering how, one autumn evening fifteen years before, he had given a party.
There had been many clever men, and they had talked of capital punishment. The majority disapproved of the death penalty (死刑). They considered it immoral and ought to be replaced by imprisonment for life.
“I don't agree,” said the banker, “the death penalty is more moral than imprisonment for life. Capital punishment kills a man at once, but lifelong imprisonment kills him slowly.”
Among the guests was a young lawyer, a young man of twenty-five. When asked, he said, “if I have to choose between the death penalty and imprisonment for life, I would certainly choose the second. It’s better to live somehow than not to live at all.”
The banker struck the table with his fist and shouted at the young man, “It’s not true! I’ll bet you two millions—you wouldn’t stay in a cell (小牢房) even for five years.”
“If you mean it seriously,” said the young man, “I’ll take the bet, but I would stay not five but fifteen years.”
“Fifteen? Done!” cried the banker, “Gentlemen, I stake (下注) two millions!”
“Agreed! _______!” said the young man. And this wild, senseless bet was carried out!
And now the banker, walking to and from, asked himself, “What is the object of that bet? What is the good of that man’s losing fifteen years of his life and my throwing away two millions?” Then he remembered what followed that evening. It was decided that the young man should spend the years of his imprisonment under the strictest supervision, in a lodge (小屋) in the banker’s house. He shouldn’t be free to go out, to see human beings, or to hear the human voice. He was only allowed to have some books. The agreement restricted the young man there exactly fifteen years. The slightest attempt on his part to break the rules—if only two minutes before the end—released the banker from the obligation (义务) to pay him the two millions.
For the first year of his imprisonment, the prisoner suffered severely from loneliness and depression. The books he sent for were novels with a complicated love plot, fantastic stories, and so on. In the second year, the prisoner asked only for the classics. In the fifth year, he did not read books. More than once he could be heard crying. In the sixth year, the prisoner began enthusiastically studying languages, philosophy, and history. In the last two years, the prisoner read a large quantity of books. At one time he was busy with the natural sciences, then he would ask for Byron or Shakespeare.
The old banker remembered all this, and thought, “Tomorrow at twelve o'clock he will regain his freedom, and I ought to pay him two millions. If I do pay him, it’s all over with me.” Fifteen years before, his millions had been beyond his imagination; now he was in great debt.
“Cursed bet!” cried the old man in despair, “The only way out for me is that the man should die.”
The clock had just struck three. The banker felt his way in the darkness into the lodge. He struck a match. Not a soul was there! Only a letter! A letter from the prisoner!
“Tomorrow at twelve o'clock I’ll regain my freedom. For fifteen years I have diligently studied earthly life. Your books gave me wisdom...To prove to you in action how I despise (鄙视) all that you live by, I waive (宣布放弃) the two millions, which I once dreamed of as paradise and which now I despise. I shall go out from here five hours before the fixed time, and so break the agreement...”
1. Why was the old banker walking up and down his study at a dark autumn night?| A．He couldn’t wait to see the lawyer. |
| B．He was too excited about the result of the bet. |
| C．He feared that he would lose a lot of money because of the bet. |
| D．He was concerned about the possibility that the young man would run away. |
| A．You bet your millions and I bet my faith. |
| B．You stake your millions and I stake my life. |
| C．You bet your millions and I bet my career. |
| D．You stake your millions and I stake my freedom. |
| A．To earn a large sum of fortune. |
| B．To defend the false truth of the world. |
| C．To enrich his soul by extensive reading. |
| D．To fight against the false-hearted banker. |
| A．A man’s taste in reading never remains the same. |
| B．The lawyer is gradually reaching a high level of reading. |
| C．The way of killing the time is always changing with time. |
| D．The lawyer is eventually addicted to reading different books. |
| A．A good name is easier lost than won. |
| B．Money spent on the brain is never spent in vain. |
| C．Wisdom in the mind is better than money in the hand. |
| D．What we acquire without sweat we give away without regret. |
| A．The banker | B．The lawyer | C．The bet | D．The death penalty |
【推荐2】Letting her take the wheel
My daughter, Mia, is 16 and learning to drive. Many parents are freaked out (惊慌失措) about putting their easily distracted teenagers in charge of a fast-moving thing of glass and steel. My wife refused to teach her, leaving the task to me.
I’ve learned a few things. First, Mia didn’t know how to drive at all. She didn’t even know where to put the key. It was like watching a chimpanzee try to solve a puzzle. Worse, she couldn’t remember that D was for drive, and R meant reverse (倒车).
Then came the road rules. Mia likes to sail past stop signs. I had to explain that “STOP means STOP”. Had she actually read the rule book? “Yes,” she said, but she forgot most of it. “It was so boring.”
Although I had been driving her around for her whole life, she hadn’t learned anything.
Despite these things, I’ve also learned that I enjoy teaching her. I think I’m pretty good at it. I am much calmer than I thought I would be.
I also enjoy the one-on-one time we have together. We have some good conversations. So far, we have covered her friends’ hairstyles and how stressed she feels after school. I enjoyed communicating with her.
One Sunday evening, we were driving down a narrow back street, deep in conversation, when I realized that the car was moving quite fast. “SLOW DOWN!” I yelled, yanking (猛拉) the hand brake (手刹). We stopped the car and sat in the dark for a minute. “You can’t go that fast,” I said. “You don’t know enough yet.” I put my hand on her head, “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Me neither.” she said.
“Okay, cool,” I said. “Let’s go.”
She started the car and we headed back home.
1. What can we know from the first two paragraphs?| A．Mia knew much about driving. |
| B．Mia was a beginner at driving. |
| C．Mia never followed her parents’ advice. |
| D．Mia was naturally skillful at driving. |
| A．he gets to know more about her | B．it helps him be calmer in daily life |
| C．it is more hands-on teaching | D．he can help plan her future |
| A．angry and nervous. | B．impatient and nervous. |
| C．disappointed and caring | D．surprised and concerned |
| A．parents should teach their child driving as early as possible |
| B．parents must accompany their child to do anything |
| C．parents should value the time they spend with their kids |
| D．teenagers should be given enough space to develop |
【推荐3】Collin was lying on his back when his sister, Mary, came in. From her red eyes, Collin could tell she felt homesick again.
Their family had moved to the Moon nearly four months ago. It still didn’t feel like home. The houses were cosy, but outside everything was gray and rocky and lifeless. There was even no weather there at all—no rain or snow or even wind.
“I miss everything, even the sound of rain on the roof,” Mary said sadly. “Worst of all, my birthday is in two days, and I don’t think Mom and Dad are planning anything special.”
She’s probably right, thought Collin. Life on the Moon was busy for scientists like their parents. He doubted if they had time to plan a party. If there was no party, maybe he could give his sister a gift. However, with limited room in their transport ship, each child had been allowed to bring only two toys from the Earth. Where could he find the gift?
The next day, as Collin wandered toward the agricultural center, he found some bamboo plants, which made good building materials. An idea flashed across his mind. He took a piece of bamboo plants, made tiny holes into it, then poured a handful of Moon cobblestones inside and sealed the open ends.
When it was done, Collin hurried home, holding the bamboo piece carefully. On seeing his sister, Collin said, “I have a present for you.” He handed his sister the bamboo stick. “Happy birthday!”
“What is it?” Mary asked, looking at it curiously.
“A rain stick,” said Collin. “Whenever you turn it over, the Moon cobblestones fall inside and it sounds like rain.”
Mary turned the stick, and the room was filled with a sound like rain drumming on a roof.
“It’s Moon rain!” she said. “It makes me feel like I’m home.” She smiled at Collin and turned the rain stick over again.
1. According to the text, what do we know about the Moon?| A．Life there is busy. | B．Its weather is changeable. |
| C．Living space there is limited. | D．Its surroundings are dull. |
| A．It created a rain scene. | B．It was her dream birthday gift. |
| C．It alleviated her homesickness. | D．It was made of good materials. |
| A．Curious and careful. | B．Caring and skillful. |
| C．Creative and enthusiastic. | D．Sensitive and knowledgeable. |
【推荐1】I come from a broken family, experiencing my parents' divorce and remarriages. After we grew up, my three siblings and I could go years without speaking. And that is where this story begins.
My sister Jeanne and I were born only 14 months apart, but by the time we were teenagers we had lost touch. By age 19, I couldn't wait to move away from our home in Wisconsin to live on a farm in Virginia, where I worked as a vet assistant. Jeanne got married at 18, moved to Chicago, and became - well, I didn't know what. We lived separate lives in separate states, and our connection somewhat ended.
When I was 24, I was on a trip to New York City for sightseeing one day, I was crossing a very busy street loaded with people. Everyone was in a hurry. I had laughed at something and I suddenly heard my name yelled from somewhere behind me: “Cheryl!" I froze in my steps in the middle of the road. Tears welled up instantly in my eyes. I knew without a doubt that it was my sister Jeanne. I yelled before even turning to look.“Jeanne?”
It was her.“Oh my God!" I screamed, and I began pushing people out of my way to get to her. The crowd started to pert. We must have seemed crazy. And there we were, standing in the middle of a Manhattan street, facing each other and smiling. I couldn't believe it.
I later asked how she'd known it was me - she never saw me! She said it was my laugh. I wouldn't say my laugh is all that unusual, but I guess to a family member it's infectious. It hits your heart and resonates in your mind.
Since that time, my sister and I have never been separated. We both moved back to Wisconsin. I see our sister-to-sister miracle as a lesson, a reminder not to lose touch with loved ones. It is too easy to remain lost.
1. Why Jeanne and Cheryl were separated?| A．Because they both grew up. |
| B．Because they wanted to escape from the family. |
| C．Because they were not willing to keep in touch. |
| D．Because they hated each other very much. |
| A．by her laugh. | B．by her talk. |
| C．by her look. | D．by her dress. |
| A．They saw it as a miracle. | B．They moved back to Wisconsin. |
| C．They remained lost easily. | D．They cherished their sisterhood. |
| A．A diary. . | B．A guidebook |
| C．A novel. | D．A magazine. |
【推荐2】The following picture books are a wonderful way to improve the summer experience with kids.
♦ Vampirina at the Beach by Anne Marie Pace
Vampirina and her best monster friend head to the beach during the full moon on a perfect summer night to enjoy all the fun and festivities the beach has to offer. Along the way, Vampirina’s beach adventures highlight the importance of beach safety to ensure a heroic adventure for all.
Available from Amazon, $11.50
♦ Summer by Alice Low
Summer brings so many things to a spirited boy, an eager girl, and an excited little dog. The season is filled with adventure. With clever rhyming words, clever phrasing, and playful images, children will love following along as this energetic trio (三重唱) takes in all the sunshine, big beach waves, fireworks, and sweet treats of this truly memorable time of year.
Available from Amazon, $6.23
♦ Waiting for Pumpsie by Barry Wittenstein
Summer is the season of baseball, and there’s no better way to celebrate summer than with the true story of Pumpsie Green’s rise from the minors to the Boston Red Sox in 1959. As the final major league team to include black athletes, young Bernard and his family travel to Fenway Park to witness Pumpsie Green take the field in this inspirational tale of equality and progress.
Available from Amazon, $9.61
♦ The Night Before Summer Camp by Natasha Wing
Sure, camp sounds fun, but when you don’t quite know what to expect, it’s only natural to feel a little nervous away from Mom and Dad. With rhyming prose (散文) and cheerful illustrations (插图), this cheering story of an unwilling boy who comes to enjoy all the fun summer camp will have children ready to take on their own camp adventure!
Available from Amazon, $3.52
1. What benefit can children get from Vampirina at the Beach?| A．Enjoying the excitement of sports. |
| B．Making friends with pets more easily. |
| C．Strengthening the sense of shore safety. |
| D．Gaining the courage to enjoy summer camp. |
| A．Summer. | B．Waiting for Pumpsie. |
| C．Vampirina at the Beach. | D．The Night Before Summer Camp. |
| A．They tell what happens in the hot season. |
| B．They introduce camp adventures. |
| C．They describe sweet music. |
| D．They have the same price. |
【推荐3】Researchers in Australia have discovered an effective new method to capture the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is damaging our planet and transform it into something solid, making it much easier to store.
Carbon capture isn’t new, but previous methods call for the gas to be compressed (压缩) into liquid and then put into underground. Widespread usage of that technology has been locked by economic and environmental concerns due to possible leaks. Instead, in a study published in Nature Communications, the group details their sustainable and cost-effective plan for transforming CO2 into coal.
This new process involves a liquid metal catalyst ( 催化剂 ) that is efficient in conducting electricity. CO2 gas is dissolved (溶解) in a container with some liquid. Once electricity charge is introduced, the CO2 begins to turn into solid pieces of carbon, which can be collected and stored.
What makes this particularly unique is that the entire process can occur at room temperature. Previous experiments have only shown a gas to solid conversion at extremely high temperature, which made it impossible on a large scale. Now, the researchers are hoping that their work will be used to create even further when it comes to carbon storage.
In an interesting side benefit, the solid carbon also works as an electrode ( 电极 ), which opens up a world of possibilities. “A side benefit of the process is that the carbon can hold electrical charge, becoming a super battery, so it could potentially be used as a part in future vehicles,” explains Dr. Dorna Estrafilzadeh, a researcher. “The process also produces fuel as a by-product, which could also have industrial applications.”
1. Why have the previous methods been limited?| A．Because CO2 is difficult to be compressed into liquid. |
| B．Because CO2 is not easily collected. |
| C．Because much space underground has to be taken up to store CO2. |
| D．Because the liquid of CO2 might leak. |
| A．The process involves a liquid metal catalyst. |
| B．CO2 gas can produce electricity during the process. |
| C．The process happens at normal temperature. |
| D．CO2 is stored in the form of solid pieces. |
| A．The method will make a difference in the future industry. |
| B．CO2 will replace the traditional fuel in the future. |
| C．The side benefits of the process have been applied widely. |
| D．The method will be used to make new vehicles. |
| A．Carbon dioxide damaging our planet |
| B．A new carbon capture technology |
| C．A new Australian discovery |
| D．How to store carbon dioxide |
【推荐1】Every day is Earth Day — probably you’ve heard it before. Nearly all Americans have access to a plastic recycling program. You may be surprised to learn how many types of plastic packaging can be recycled into new, useful products!
Ford Motor Company has been helping to promote the use of environmentally-friendly auto parts — and one way they’re doing that is by using recycled plastic bottles for underbody shields (底盘保护罩) and other auto parts on cars.
“The underbody shield is a large part, and for a part that big, if we use solid plastic, it would likely weigh three times as much,” said Thomas Sweder, a design engineer of Ford Motor Company. “We look for the most durable and highest performing materials to work with to make our parts, and in this case, we are also creating many environmental benefits.”
In the past decade, the global use of plastics in vehicle parts has grown quickly. Ford alone uses about 1.2 billion recycled plastic bottles per year, about 250 bottles per vehicle on average.
When plastic bottles are thrown into a recycling bin, they are collected with thousands of others and cut into small pieces. These pieces are typically sold to suppliers who turn them into fibers, by melting and pressing them. Then they are mixed together with other various types of fiber in a process and used to make a sheet of material which is formed into the auto parts.
Due to its light weight, recycled plastic is ideal for the manufacturing of underbody shields. These shields reportedly also help create a significantly quieter environment on the new 2020 Ford Escape.
This is not the only way that Ford has been committed to environmental protection; the automotive company recently partnered with McDonald’s coffee suppliers to recycle all of their coffee roasting biowaste into headlights.
“Ford is among the leaders when it comes to using recycled materials such as this,” Sweder said. “This material meets all of our requirements for durability and performance.”
1. Why does Ford choose recycled plastic as environmentally-friendly materials?| A．Because it’s new and useful. | B．Because it’s durable and light. |
| C．Because it’s cheap and easy to get. | D．Because it’s portable and well-performed. |
| A．The global use of plastics. | B．The mixing process of fibers. |
| C．The advantages of plastic bottles. | D．The formation of the new auto material. |
| A．Recycling coffee roasting biowaste. | B．Improving vehicle parts. |
| C．Recycling plastic bottles into auto parts. | D．Creating a quieter environment. |
| A．Ford Takes the Lead in Plastic Recycling. |
| B．Every Day is Earth Day. |
| C．Ecological Auto Underbody Shields. |
| D．A Pioneer in Promoting Environmental Protection. |
When your Laker dream comes true tomorrow， you need to figure out a way to invest in the future of your family． This sounds simple， and you may think it's a no﹣brainer， but take some time to think on it further．
I said INVEST．
I did not say GIVE
Let me explain．
Purely giving material things to your siblings（兄弟姐妹） may appear to be right decision． So you buy them a car， a big house， pay， all of their bill． You want them to live a beautiful comfortable life， right？
But the day will come when you realize that as much as you believed you were doing the right thing， you were actually holding them back．
You will come to understand that you were taking care of them because it made YOU feel good， it made YOU happy to see them smiling and without a care in the world ﹣ and that was extremely selfish of you． While you were feeling satisfied with yourself， you were slowly eating away at their own dreams and ambitions． You were adding material things to their lives， but subtracting the most precious gifts of all．
Invest in their future， don't just give．
Use your success， wealth and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose． Put them through school， set them up with job interviews and help them become leaders in their own right． Hold them to the same level of hard work and dedication that it took for you to get to where you are now， and where you will eventually go．
I'm writing you now so that you can begin this process immediately， and so that you don't have to deal with the hurt and struggle of weaning（断绝） them off of the addiction that you facilitated That addiction only leads to anger， hatred and jealousy from everybody involved， including yourself．
As time goes on， you will see them grow independently and have their own ambitions and their own lives， and your relationship with all of them will be much better as a result．
Trust me， setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and headache， some of which remains to this day．
Much love，
1. What might be the best title of his letter？| A．To My Younger Self |
| B．For My Dear Family |
| C．To My Beloved Son |
| D．For My Older Self |
| A．Independence and growth |
| B．wealth and health |
| C．love and dedication |
| D．success and leadership |
| A．The writer will stop offering his siblings help in the future． |
| B．The writer didn't think it a good fortune to become successful early． |
| C．The writer intends to remind others not to care too much about materials |
| D．The writer was once troubled by the relationship between him and his family． |
【推荐3】A new study shows a link between bad technology and higher stress levels of employees. The research involved experiments in which brainwaves were measured as people were put through a series of bad technology experiences. The experiments involved adults of many ages with different levels of computer skills.
Subjects were tested with simple computer problems, like troubled sign-in operations. Others dealt with slow-speed connections to the Internet. Still others experienced system crashes. “The moment people started using bad technology, we saw a doubling of their levels of stress,” said Olivier Oullier, president of EMOTIV. “I was a bit surprised by that, because you rarely see those levels going so high,” he said. The experiments showed that technology-related stress had a lasting effect, he added.
In addition to tech failures affecting the mental health of employees, the problems can also affect a company’s business, the research found. Bad problems can reduce productivity, especially that of younger workers. The research showed a thirty percent production drop among study subjects under age 40.
“As stressful as the tech problems were for those in the study”, Oullier said, “such effects were likely to be even more severe in the real world.” He said the subjects knew they were involved in an experiment so they may not have been as personally affected by the results. He also said the continuing coronavirus crisis has sharply increased stress levels around the world. So real tech problems drive up those already high stress levels.
Another issue is that many employees are working remotely and this can also add to tech difficulties. In an office, computer support helpers are usually available to help workers solve tech problems. But working from a kitchen or home office, employees are often on their own.
The amount of work an employee can get done in a day can increase as much as 37 percent when effective technology is used, along with supporting software and services. Using good technology can save employees 23 minutes per hour. And on average, bad tech was found to interfere with employee performance by up to 30 percent.
1. How did researchers carry out experiment?| A．By involving employees of similar ages. |
| B．By asking employees to finish the same task. |
| C．By exposing employees to bad technology problems. |
| D．By offering employees different types of computers. |
| A．By giving an example. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By using others’ opinion. | D．By following the order of time. |
| A．Imagination. | B．Happiness. |
| C．Health. | D．Output. |
| A．Higher Stress Levels of Younger Workers |
| B．Technology Problems Linked to Higher Stress Levels |
| C．Effects of Bad Technology Experiences on Employees |
| D．Employees’ Productivity and Working Environment |
